KPD – B2B communication service

It is a service enabling a secured data transmission between given subjects over the Internet through an application and hardware means of an operator – CNS a.s. The app consists of a server part (run on and maintained by technical devices of the operator) and a work station (operated on individual PC´s of each partner – subscriber of the system). HTTPS protocol is used for secure access to protected web servers. The app is used mainly by companies on the field of car industry and logistics. 60 companies of the above-stated industries currently use the service. The variability of KPD enables its use in small companies of local importance or big multi-national companies of global extent.

Description of the solution

Client

The user creates a file and stores it into an outbox folder of a workstation app. The app searches an outbox folder in a scheduled interval, or on user´s demand, and connects securely to a server, sends the data and displays a data transmission report in the app. If the transmission succeeds, the app deletes the file (moves it to archive) and goes on to send another file. If the sending fails the connection is interrupted and transmission is terminated. Sending of such file is repeated in next transmission. If a transmission is interrupted, the already transmitted part of the file is not transmitted again because the app continues the transmission from a break point. Receiving of the file by the server works analogically. The station is compatible with desktop operation systems of Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 and server operation systems of Windows Server 2003, 2008 and 2012.

Server

Following a secured connection, a web server receives the data. The data is then transmitted to an application server. The application server authenticates user name and password with a database server and accepts the data for processing. The data is then stored, checked for consistency and in case of a successful transmission a server part of the app returns the workstation a message about the transmission. The data is then processed by the application server using user-defined rules and distributed to a target database. All monitored activities are recorded into a protocol.

Files

Formats and contents of the files are defined by a user. A specific format of transmitted files, estimated quantity, file sizes etc. need to be agreed on prior to service kick-off. The operator is only responsible for file transmission. Each file has a record in a log and a sender is kept informed about a successful file download by a target recipient in a delivery advice. The delivery advice is generated by an operator and it contains time and date of downloading the file by a business partner.

Options, features and functionality of KPD system

KPD system user

Upon activation of KPD service, each user is provided with his own user account. The account is defined by name, password and a unique ID. The user can be assigned to 3 different authentication categories:
1st category: enables to send files to all companies in the system and also enables mass transmission (1 file for all)
2nd category enables to receive files and optionally, to send just between 2 defined users
3rd category enables to send a file to more users which are defined for the user

Sending and receiving of files, logging and archiving

Having connected to the server, the workstation advises the user on files ready to be downloaded and displays their number. Following the download of all files, the station advices the user and terminates the connection.

Files are routed to individual users of KPD system according to folder structure. The folders are named according to business partners, more precisely by their unique ID. The very same folder structure is also created for receiving the delivery advices or other files.

While downloading files it is possible to use prioritizing. That means that the user can define file which are to be downloaded first.

It is possible to archive files automatically (needs to be set up in the app).

Also, the user can define creation of transmission logs and error logs. In transmission logs, date, time and file name and result of transmission are stored. Error logs record errors in operation of the app. Recorded errors and their description help to find solution to fix problems.

File conversion

A server run by CNS a.s. can be used for file conversion as specified for input/output formats of each individual user. This is an above-standard service and is provided following an agreement with a user.

Localization

The app can be localized for any language. This functionality uses language files. Normally, Czech and English are supplied by CNS a.s. The user can have other language translated and thus localize the app.